Systems and methods for freight tracking and monitoring

• US 9,864,968 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2012
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Moir, William Mark, Vandy, Scott Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender, Florian M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amsdell, Dana
• Application Number:
  US13/729,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20130124430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,838 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/083 lift truck scale
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/415 combined with recording means
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/002 Means for correcting for obliquity of mounting for pendulum-weight apparatus G01G1/16
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3735 using a digital network
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/42 electrically operated
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08345 Pricing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

System, methods, and computer program products are provided for enhanced freight tracking and monitoring. The system may track the location of a freight shipment within a carrier'"'"'s transportation network from the time it is picked up by a carrier from a consignor until it is delivered to a consignee, provide for weight determinations and shipping re-classifications of the freight shipment during transport, and provide real-time status information and reports to the carrier, consignor, and/or consignee.

Claims

1. A method for reweighing freight shipments comprising:

electronically receiving an electronic manifest comprising shipping data for each of a plurality of freight shipments, wherein (1) each of the plurality of freight shipments is associated with a unique tracking identifier for tracking the respective freight shipment'"'"'s location through a carrier'"'"'s transportation network, (2) the plurality of freight shipments is being transported through the carrier'"'"'s transportation network, and (3) the shipping data comprises information identifying (a) the unique tracking identifier associated with each of the respective freight shipments and (b) a final delivery destination for each of the respective freight shipments;

capturing, via an imaging device of a carrier, one or more images of a freight shipment of the plurality of freight shipments;

electronically transmitting, from the imaging device to a lift truck computing device disposed on a lift truck of the carrier, the one or more images;

determining, via a reweigh computing device disposed on the lift truck, a weight of at least a portion of the freight shipment;

electronically transmitting, from the reweigh computing device to the lift truck computing device, the weight determination of at least the portion of the freight shipment;

receiving, via the lift truck computing device, the one or more images captured by the imaging device;

receiving, via the lift truck computing device, the weight determination of at least the portion of the freight shipment;

receiving, via the lift truck computing device, input initiating a location event for a freight shipment of the plurality of freight shipments, wherein the location event indicates the location of freight of the freight shipment;

receiving, via the lift truck computing device, inspection data regarding freight of the freight shipment in response to initiating the location event, the inspection data indicating a condition of freight of the freight shipment at the indicated location;

determining, via the lift truck computing device, whether the inspection data exceeds a plurality of predefined inspection threshold numeric values;

detecting, via lift truck detecting devices in communication with the lift truck computing device, an overage, or a shortage and damage of the freight of the freight shipment in response to determining that at least two of the predefined inspection threshold numeric values are exceeded;

automatically determining, via the lift truck computing device, dimensions of the freight shipment based on the one or more images captured by the imaging device;

after (1) receiving the weight determination and (2) automatically determining the dimensions of the freight shipment, automatically determining, via the lift truck computing device, a reweigh classification designating a shipping classification for the freight shipment based on the weight determination and the dimensions of the freight shipment, the reweigh classification determined while the freight shipment is being transported through the carrier'"'"'s transportation network;

identifying, via the lift truck computing device, based at least in part on the electronic manifest, a billing classification for the freight shipment, the billing classification corresponds to an initial shipping classification for the freight shipment provided by the consignor to the carrier; and

determining, via the lift truck computing device, whether the designated shipping classification of the reweigh classification of the freight shipment and the initial shipping classification of the billing classification of the freight shipment are substantially the same, the billing classification provided by a consignor of the freight shipment.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically generating a classification alert if the reweigh classification and the billing classification are not substantially the same.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising updating the billing classification to indicate the reweigh classification of the freight shipment.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, via the lift truck computing device, whether there is an overage or shortage of the freight of the freight shipment that occurred during transport through the transportation network based in part on analyzing the weight determination.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to automatically determining the dimensions of the freight shipment, the method further comprises:

detecting, via the lift truck computing device, respective inspection thresholds, among a plurality of predefined inspection threshold values denoting a predefined amount of freight overage, or freight shortage or freight damage that is acceptable for the freight of the freight shipment.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating, via the lift truck computing device, an inspection alert in response to determining that the inspection data exceeds at least one of the predefined inspection threshold numeric values, the inspection alert notifies at least one entity that the at least one predefined inspection threshold numeric value is exceeded.

4. A system for tracking the movement of freight shipments comprising:

a lift truck computing device disposed on a lift truck, the lift truck computing device comprising a memory, a display, and one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to;

receive an electronic manifest comprising shipping data for each of a plurality of freight shipments, wherein (1) each of the plurality of freight shipments is associated with a unique tracking identifier for tracking the respective freight shipment'"'"'s location through a carrier'"'"'s transportation network, (2) the plurality of freight shipments is being transported through the carrier'"'"'s transportation network, and (3) the shipping data comprises information identifying (a) the unique tracking identifier associated with each of the respective freight shipments and (b) a final delivery destination for each of the respective freight shipments; and

an imaging device configured to;

capture one or more images of a freight shipment of the plurality of freight shipments; and

electronically transmit the one or more images of the freight shipment to the lift truck computing device; and

a reweigh computing device disposed on the lift truck, the reweigh computing device configured to;

automatically determine a weight of at least a portion of the freight shipment; and

electronically transmit the weight determination to the lift truck computing device,

wherein the lift truck computing device is in communication with lift truck detecting devices, and is further configured to;

receive the one or more images captured by the imaging device;

receive the weight determination of at least the portion of the freight shipment;

receive input initiating a location event for a freight shipment of the plurality of freight shipments, wherein the location event indicates the location of freight of the freight shipment;

receive inspection data regarding freight of the freight shipment in response to initiating the location event, the inspection data indicating a condition of freight of the freight shipment at the indicated location;

determine whether the inspection data exceeds a plurality of predefined inspection threshold numeric values;

detect an overage, or a shortage and damage of the freight of the freight shipment in response to determining that at least two of the predefined inspection threshold numeric values are exceeded;

automatically determine dimensions of the freight shipment based on the one or more images captured by the imaging device;

automatically determine a reweigh classification designating a shipping classification for the freight shipment based at least in part on the weight determination and the dimensions of the freight shipment, the reweigh classification determined while the freight shipment is being transported through the carrier'"'"'s transportation network;

identify a billing classification for the freight shipment, based at least in part on the electronic manifest, the billing classification corresponds to an initial shipping classification for the freight shipment provided by the consignor to the carrier; and

determine whether the designated shipping classification of the reweigh classification of the freight shipment and the initial shipping classification of the billing classification of the freight shipment are substantially the same.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the one or more processors of the lift truck computing device are further configured to generate a classification alert if the reweigh classification and the billing classification are not substantially the same.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising:

an enterprise system comprising one or more processors configured to;

receive the reweigh classification from the lift truck computing device; and

update the billing classification to indicate the reweigh classification of the freight shipment.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the lift truck computing device is further configured to:

determine whether there is an overage or shortage of the freight of the freight shipment that occurred during transport through the transportation network based in part on analyzing the weight determination.

11. The system of claim 4, wherein prior to automatically determine the dimensions of the freight shipment, the lift truck computing device is further configured to:

detect respective inspection threshold values, among the plurality of predefined inspection threshold numeric values denoting a predefined amount of freight overage, or freight shortage or freight damage that is acceptable for the freight of the freight shipment.

12. The system of claim 4, wherein the lift truck computing device is further configured to:

generate an inspection alert in response to determining that the inspection data exceeds at least one of the predefined inspection threshold numeric values, the inspection alert notifies at least one entity that the at least one predefined inspection threshold numeric value is exceeded.